Passover Feast

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Transcript of Passover Feast

Passover 2011 welcome to what is passover? Passover is the anniversary party for God delivering his people, Israel, from slavery in Egypt. (Exodus Ch. 12) God commanded his people to remember it every year on the 15 day of the Jewish month of Nissan (that is tonight) in Exodus 20:14 Passover is also the time Jesus died for our sins. The Last Supper he ate was a Passover meal like the one you’re eating tonight.

Jesus commanded his people to remember it too. Check out the Gospels and I Corinthians 11.

what's for dinner ? God’s people were commanded to eat a very special lamb.Jesus told us in John chapter 4 that to follow God we have to eat him and drink his blood.As believers, we believe Jesus is our lamb. So we won’t be having lamb for dinner. Passover Seder Plate The Passover (or pesach) dinner is known as a seder. It always has center plates like those you see in front of you. Everything there is symbolic. An egg represents new life – it was a new life of freedom for the Jews and we have new life in freedom through Christ. Bitter Herbs are required. They represent the hardship of slavery for the Jews and the pain that sin causes each one of us. A roasted shank bone (traditionally lamb) represents the sacrifice and reminds us that “With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, the LORD brought [them] from Egypt.” Charoses is a mixture of apples, walnuts, and wine. It symbolizes the mortar that the Jews used in the bricks to build stuff as slaves in Egypt. Romaine lettuce will be dipped in salt water to remind us of the tears that the Jews shed in Egypt. Anything else? Unleavened bread is bread that hasn’t had time to rise. That’s because the Jews were in a hurry to leave. God commanded that only unleavened bread be eaten for a week starting with the Passover meal. Wine is the traditional drink of the meal. (We’re using non-alcoholic wine) Traditionally, 4 glasses of wine are drunk during the celebration. We will be passing around a cup just like Jesus and his disciples did. If you’re a germaphobe, let your leader know and he will pour you an individual cup Any more symbols?You’ll see how the bread… and the wine… represent God.As Jews celebrate deliverance from Egypt, we Christians celebrate deliverance from sin. Let's Begin... Leaders, please pour a glass full of wine.

First we’re going to recite a prayer together(there’s a lot of that)Some of it’s traditional while a lot ofit is scriptural. Recite with us: Blessed are You, O LORD, our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.

Blessed are you, O LORD, our God, King of the Universe, who selected us from among all people and exalted us among nations and sanctified us with Your commandments and You, O LORD, or God have given us festival days for joy, this feast of unleavened bread, the time of our deliverance in remembrance of the departure from Egypt. For us have You selected, and sanctified from among all nations, in that You caused us to inherit Your festival days.

Blessed are You, O LORD, who made Israel and the festival days holy.

Blessed are You, O LORD, our God, King of the Universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to enjoy this season. Drink Up.The wine will be passed around, please lean back or recline (get comfy), and drink it. Hand washing time.Wash your hands, but do not say the blessing. KarpasLeaders, dip the vegetable in the salt water and pass some to each person at your table. Eat this. It’s salty to remind us of the tears brought on by slavery and sin. Breaking the MatzotThe unleavened bread is one of the oldest parts of this feast. It’s practice and symbolism were around way before Jesus was alive on Earth. The bread is considered one bread, though there are three parts on your table. (Kinda like the Trinity, huh?)The leader needs to take the middle piece and break it in half. The bigger halves are being collected, and the smaller halves stay with the rest of the bread. The larger halves are being hidden, we’ll play hide and seek later.The leader needs to take the bread and lift it up as we all recite together: This is the bread of our affliction which our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt; let all those who are hungry, enter and eat thereof; and all who are in distress, come and celebrate the Passover. Now we celebrate it here, but one day we hope to celebrate it with God. This year we are slaves here, but one day we hope to be free men with God. Leaders please fill up the cups for a second glass of wine. (We’ve got a while till we drink it.)

I need a volunteer.

Who is the YOUNGEST person in here? The Four Questions Why is tonight different from all other nights?1. Any other night we can eat regular bread, how come tonight we only have unleavened bread?2. Every other night we can eat any herb, how come tonight we only eat bitter herbs?3. Every other night we do not dip vegetables, but tonight we dip them twice?4. Every other night we eat and drink sitting up, how come tonight we all recline? A brief telling of the Passover story:Jews lived in Egypt for 400 years, for much of that time as slaves.God brought up Moses to lead them out of Egypt into freedom and into the land that God promised them.The Pharaoh wouldn’t let them go easily, so God sent 10 plagues…Since those 10 plagues caused hardship, we’re not going to drink all the wine. As I mention the plagues in order, the leaders should dip their fingers in the wine and drip a drop onto a napkin.They are: turning water to Blood, Frogs, Gnats, Flies, Disease on animals, Boils, Hail mixed with fire, Locusts, DarknessAnd the killing of the First Born Son

God “Passed over” the houses of the Jews who had the lamb’s blood on the doorposts. So catch this, a firstborn son had to die before God’s people were set free.A lamb had to die so that God wouldn’t kill the firstborn son.Jesus is the lamb, Jesus is the Son. Jesus died so that we might be free. THE PASSOVER Leaders, show the unleavened bread and bitter herbs to your table.When the Jews left Egypt, they did so in a hurry. The bread that they were cooking didn’t have time to rise. Leavening is also like sin in our lives, just a little leavening makes the whole loaf leavened. Just a little sin in our lives makes us sinners. We need a savior.Check out the bitter herbs, God delivered the Jews from the bitterness of slavery and delivered us from the bitterness of sin. Leaders, lift up the cup of wine.

Lets all pray together:Blessed are you, O LORD, our God, King of the Universe, who have redeemed us and our ancestors from Egypt and have brought us to the enjoyment of this night, to eat unleavened bread and bitter herbs. You, O LORD, our God, and God of our ancestors; may You bring us to enjoy in peace other solemn feasts and sacred seasons which approach us… …so that we may rejoice in the building of Your city and exult in Your holy service; that we may there eat of the sacrifices and of the holy paschal offerings whose blood shall be sprinkled on the side of Your altar for Your acceptance. Then shall we with a new song, give thanks to You for our deliverance, and for the redemption of our souls. … Blessed are You, O LORD,who has redeemed Israel.Blessed are you, O LORD, our God,who creates the fruit of the vine. Drink up again...The wine will be passed around, please lean back or recline and drink it. Hand washing time.Wash your hands,and this time say:Blessed are You, O LORD, our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us to wash our hands. Leaders, take the bread and say the following blessing:Blessed are You, O LORD, our God, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.Blessed are You, O LORD, our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us to eat unleavened bread. Leaders, break pieces of unleavened bread, put the bitter herbs and apple and nut mix onto it, and give some to each of the people at your table.Eat the bread with the herbs. Leaders, take the bitter herbs, dip them into the apple and nut mix and say the following blessing:Blessed are You, O LORD, our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us to eat bitter herbs. Dinner time: listen for instructions.Yum yum yum… Leaders, please fill the third cup.Please listen to further instructions.Trash.Hide and seek. Please look at this half of the middle piece of unleavened bread.Do not eat it yet. Remember whom this bread represents. As such, it is all you’ll need. Please do not eat anything else the rest of the night. Now, let us say grace… The Name of the LORD be blessed from now until eternity Let us bless Him, our God, of Whose gifts we have partaken … Blessed be He, and blessed be His name!Blessed are You, O LORD, our God, King of the Universe, who feeds the whole world with Your goodness, and with grace, kindness, mercy, gives food to every creature,for His mercy endures forever. … May He who is most merciful, bless Brother Edsel, the head of this congregation; and Sister Judy, his wife; their home and their family; Brother Tim and Kristi, his wife; their home and their family;Jeremy and Jen; their home and their families; all of us here, and all our families.And Blessed are you, O LORD, our God, King of the Universe, who created the fruit of the vine. And when Jesus had given thanks, he brake the bread and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. Leaders, break the bread and give a portion to each person at your table.Eat it in remembrance of the crucifixion of Christ for our deliverance from sin. After the same manner also Jesus took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.Leaders, pass the cup around your table.Drink of the cup in remembrance of Christ’s blood and the new covenant of grace that we have with God. Leaders, please fill the fourth cup. Let us recite Psalm 136 and speak of God’s never ending love: To Him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. who by His understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever. who made the great lights-- His love endures forever. the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever. the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever. to Him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt His love endures forever. and brought Israel out from among them His love endures forever. with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever. to Him who divided the Red Sea asunder His love endures forever. and brought Israel through the midst of it, His love endures forever. but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea; His love endures forever. to Him who led His people through the desert, His love endures forever. who struck down great kings, His love endures forever. and killed mighty kings-- His love endures forever Sihon king of the Amorites His love endures forever. and Og king of Bashan-- His love endures forever. and gave their land as an inheritance, His love endures forever. an inheritance to his servant Israel; His love endures forever. to the One who remembered us in our low estate His love endures forever. and freed us from our enemies, His love endures forever. and who gives food to every creature. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever. Amen.Now pray with me: Blessed are You, O LORD, our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.Drink the fourth cup. Let us bow our heads in closing prayer:The commemoration service of the Passover has now been accomplished according to its order, all the ordinances and customs of the feast. As we have been deemed worthy to prepare it now, grant also that we may be worthy to fulfill it. You, O Most Holy, who dwells on High, raise up Your innumerable people. Amen.You are dismissed. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever

Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. Leaders, show the unleavened bread and bitter herbs to your table.

When the Jews left Egypt, they did so in a hurry.The bread that they were cooking didn’t have time to rise. Leavening is also like sin in our lives, just a little leavening makes the whole loaf leavened. Just a little sin in our lives makes us sinners. We need a savior.Check out the bitter herbs, God delivered the Jews from the bitterness of slavery and delivered us from the bitterness of sin. Leaders, lift up the cup of wine.Lets all pray together:Blessed are you, O LORD, our God, King of the Universe, who have redeemed us and our ancestors from Egypt and have brought us to the enjoyment of this night, to eat unleavened bread and bitter herbs. You, O LORD, our God, and God of our ancestors; may You bring us to enjoy in peace other solemn feasts and sacred seasons which approach us…

…so that we may rejoice in the building of Your city and exult in Your holy service; that we may there eat of the sacrifices and of the holy paschal offerings whose blood shall be sprinkled on the side of Your altar for Your acceptance. Then shall we with a new song, give thanks to You for our deliverance, and for the redemption of our souls. …

Blessed are You, O LORD,who has redeemed Israel.

Blessed are you, O LORD, our God,who creates the fruit of the vine. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever

Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. To Him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. who by His understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever. who made the great lights-- His love endures forever. the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever. the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever. to Him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt His love endures forever. and brought Israel out from among them His love endures forever. with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever. to Him who divided the Red Sea asunder His love endures forever. and brought Israel through the midst of it, His love endures forever. but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea; His love endures forever. to Him who led His people through the desert, His love endures forever. who struck down great kings, His love endures forever. and killed mighty kings-- His love endures forever Sihon king of the Amorites His love endures forever. and Og king of Bashan-- His love endures forever. and gave their land as an inheritance, His love endures forever. an inheritance to his servant Israel; His love endures forever. to the One who remembered us in our low estate His love endures forever. and freed us from our enemies, His love endures forever. and who gives food to every creature. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever. Amen.

Now pray with me: Blessed are You, O LORD, our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.

Drink the fourth cup. Let us bow our heads in closing prayer:The commemoration service of the Passover has now been accomplished according to its order, all the ordinances and customs of the feast. As we have been deemed worthy to prepare it now, grant also that we may be worthy to fulfill it. You, O Most Holy, who dwells on High, raise up Your innumerable people. Amen.